Govt to launch ID card printing service in Kudahuvadhoo

The Department of National Registration (DNR) will launch national identity card printing service in Dh. Kudahuvadhoo on Tuesday, according to the Homeland Security Ministry.

ID printing service was previously provided solely from the DNR headquarters in the Velana Building of Male’ City. The service was expanded to GA. Vilingili in September.

Kudahuvadhoo will become only the second island outside the capital to have the service available.

According to the Homeland Security Ministry, the service is being set up in Kudahuvadhoo with the support of the Dh. Atoll Council.

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan is scheduled to travel to Kudahuvadhoo to inaugurate the service on Tuesday.

The Homeland Security Ministry noted that the expansion of the service to Kudahuvadhoo aligns with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to have ID card printing service available from the capital or an island of each atoll.

The Homeland Security Ministry said that it will continue to expand the service to other islands as it receives the machinery needed for it.

The DNR was established in 1984. Back then, it was called the Identity Card Unit and was mandated with collecting and managing the information of the people living in the Maldives. The unit was rebranded as the DNR in 1993.

The DNR operates 174 collection centers. It introduced online applications in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The online portal was updated in March 2023. The DNR later expanded its services to deliver ID cards to the local council of the island applicants are residing in.